Jon Lowery Makes the Switch from Hamline to St. Thomas

The University of St. Thomas has hired Jon Lowery as its new head coach of men’s soccer.

Lowery brings an excellent soccer resume as a player and coach, including the last three seasons as head men’s coach at nearby Hamline University, and six years as a Division I assistant.

“Jon Lowery is an impressive individual and has a strong resume in the sport of soccer,” said St. Thomas athletics director Steve Fritz. “His Twin Cities roots and experience in coaching and recruiting while at Hamline will be a nice plus during his transition.”

An Apple Valley, Minn., native, Lowery was named the 1994 Gatorade Minnesota High School Player of the Year. He playing collegiately at Ohio State University and was twice named first-team All-Big Ten. He later enjoyed a four-year professional playing career in both the United Soccer League and Major League Soccer.

Lowery began his coaching career as an assistant coach at UMass-Amherst for two seasons before returning to his alma mater in 2005 and 2006 as an assistant to help the Buckeyes reach the Big Ten Championship match and NCAA Tournament. In 2007, Lowery moved on to Division I powerhouse Wake Forest University as an assistant coach and was a part one of the most successful soccer programs in collegiate history. Wake Forest had a record of 43-4-3; spent two seasons as the nation’s top-ranked team; produced nine major-league soccer draft picks; and won the institution’s first NCAA national championship, in 2007, with a 2-1 win over Ohio State.

In 2009, Lowery moved back to Minnesota and worked to build the Hamline soccer program as the head coach for the past three seasons.

Lowery also currently works within the United States Soccer Federation’s Development Academy as the director of the Minnesota Thunder (MTA) Development Academy and is head coach for the U17/18′s.

“I feel very fortunate and excited to be joining the University of St. Thomas as the head men’s soccer coach,” Lowery said. “I want to thank the search committee, Athletic Director Steve Fritz and Vice President Jane Canney for the opportunity to lead the program into a new era. It’s with bold ambition and appreciation to the wonderful mentors and players I have worked with to prepare me for this opportunity.

“The values driving this great university will also guide our soccer program, enriching each member’s experience as we provide a challenging and rewarding environment focused on success both on and off the field.”

Lowery replaces Aaron Macke, who retired after 10 seasons to spend more time with his family and his full-time role as St. Thomas’ Director of Residence Life. Macke guided the Tommies to a 102-57-21 record (53-31-16 in conference regular-season play), with MIAC playoff berths in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

As a hamline alum who has spoken to Jon before, I never thought he’d hang around Hamline long. Always got the feeling he was using it as a springboard to something else. Just wish he’d hung around longer and not left to that school down the street that us at hamline hate so much (kidding of course).

From what I am hearing, Mr. Lowery made some sacrifices to move to a St. Thomas where the soccer program will actually be supported. Jon’s a soccer guy through and through and St. Thomas will help him achieve his goal of having one of the best teams in MIAC. That was not necessarily true at Hamline.

This IS NOT the first time I’ve heard this sort of frustration in regard to Hamline nor the first sport at that university that has been frustrated with lack of support. And no, it’s not the AD. One must look higher than that.